Internal combustion engine



, Aug. 17,-1943. E. ALLSTADT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 8,1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 a? 8 8 O I vmv I I o IIIM. q n I a .14 MI 3 1|d+I 3 av am a2 I 5 n 5 O I:..,. .Q I N 8? N an m n E 0 3w 3: I I O N ,3I I $5 0 MHEI x, I m II no I I VIM. U 5. m up -v x O.

5M v O I 3 i Y Aiforney Aug. 17, 1943. ALLSTADT 2,326,913

I INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 8, 1940 2 Sheets -Sheet 2Attorney Patented Aug. 17, 1943 trap sates PATENT orucs 2,326,913mTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Erich Allstiidt, Frankfort-on-the-Main,

; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Ger- Application August s,1940, Serial No. 351,815

. In Germany August 17, 1939 Giaims.

My invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, andmore particularly in engines of the type in which in radially arrangedcylinders pairs of pistons are mounted for reciprocating in oppositedirections, the outer and inner pistons being connected respectively tocommon power transmission mechanisms. In

' engines of this type such as are now in use the outer powertransmission mechanism is in the form of a cam way controlling thestrokes of the outer pistons, and the said cam way is engaged by rollerscarried by the said outer pistons. In such constructions the number ofrevolutions of the said rollers is exceedingly high, and it is amultiple of the number of revolutions of the crank shaft, the saidnumber of revolutions being at an inverse ratio to the diameters of therollers and the cam way. Therefore, the friction of therollers rollingon the cam way and the rollers on their pivot bolts is high.

One of the objects of the improvements is to provide an engine ofthetype indicated in which the power transmission mechanism cooperatingwith the outer pistons is in the form of a ring having oscillatingmovement relatively to the set of cylinders. the ring is comparativelysmall, and therefore the resistance caused by the movement of thepistons with flanges embracing a cylindrical casing in which the saidcylinders are mounted. Other objects of the improvements will appearfrom the following description. For the purpose of explaining theinvention several examples embodying the same have been shown in theaccompanying drawings in which the same reference characters have beenused in all the views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation comprising a frame or casing in whichthe cylinders are mounted, and which is fixed to a suitable support,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 1and showing a modification in which the said frame 'or casing carryingthe cylinders is rotatably mounted, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 6-4 of Fig. 3.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the internal combustion enginemainly consists of three elements, viz. a frame or casing i carrying theworking cylinders and the pistons mounted therein, a ring or casing 2controlling the reciprocating movements of the outer pistons andproviding a part of a compressor, and a shaft 3, which -as shown is acrank shaft. The axis Y of the ring or casing 2 is eccentric to the axisX of the frame or casing i, and the axis Z of the crank of the shaft 3is eccentric to the axes X and Y.

In the example shown in the figures the frame I carries a four workingcylinders ia, db, ic and dd arranged star-like relatively to the axis Xof the casing l, and displaced' relatively to one another at angles of90. Within the said cylinders outer pistons 50., 5b, 5c and 5d and innerpistons Ea, ib, lo and id are mounted, and the outer pistons areconnected by connecting rods The said oscillating movement of ta, 6b, 6cand tel with the ring or casing 2. The inner or working pistons la, lb,Sc and. 7d are connected by connecting rods 8a, 8b, 8c and 8:1 with thecrank shaft 3.

Preferably theindividual engines are of the explosion type, and fuel isinjected into the same through injection nozzle 9 connected by pipes illwith a fuel pump H. Fuel pumps suitable in my improved machine are knownin the art and therefore I deem it sufiicient to show the same in adiagrammatical way.

Between the cylinders and their pistons radi-' ally movable pistonsi211, I212, E20 and I2d are mounted wln'ch are jointed tov the ring orcasing 2, and between the said pistons working chambers i311, Mb, 830and [3d of a multiple compressor are formed, the working chamber I3abeing provided between the pistons Ho and IE1), the working chamber l3cbetween the pistons I20 and 12d and the working chamber l3d between thepistons 12d and 12a.

As appears from Figs. 1 and 2, the casing l is provided in addition tothe outer circumferential wall I with an inner circumferential wall la,

by means of which the casing is divided into two chambers. The outerannular chamber I4 provides a chamber for storing air under pressure,and the inner chamber [5 has a supply of a cooling medium such as water,by means of which the heat developed within the cylinders is removed.

The casing I is provided with four steering grooves 16a, 16b, i6c and"id one for each workin: chamber 13a, I31), I30 and [3d, the saidgrooves opening into the working chambers.

Near the said grooves ports l'la, llb, I and The outer ends of thecylinders 4a, 4b, 4c

and 4d communicate through scavenging ports with the compressed airchamber l4, and near their inner ends they are formed with exhaust ports2| through which the expanded gases are delivered to the outer air.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the frame or casing issupported by means of brackets 22 on a stationary body.

The operation of the engine is as follows: Fuel is supplied by the fuelpump H and through the pipe III to the injection nozzles 9 of theworking chambers of the cylinders 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d. After ignition ofthe combustible mixture the pistons are thrown in opposite directions.The outwardly moving pistons 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d impart radial and rotaryoscillating movement to way as the rotary piston of a rotary compressor,I and therefore the working chambers I311, I31),

I and |3d are successively enlarged and reduced, so that air is drawninto the said chambers and compressed therein.

In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2 the steering groove I30registers with theport I10, and therefore air is drawn into the workingchamber |3c Further, the groove I31) and the port llb connect theworking chamber |3b with the outer air, while the port Ila has beendisplaced relatively to the groove in so far that the said parts are outof register. Therefore compression begins within the working chamber |3aandthe compression within the working chamber |3d is further continued,

The air is compressed within the workin chambers such as |3d to thefinal pressure, and it is expelled therefrom into the chamber l4 of theframe, which chamber communicates with the chamber I3d through the port|9a and the groove |8a.

As the outer pistons 50, 5b, 5c and 5d of the engines approach the outerdead center the scavenging ports 20 and.the exhaust ports 2| are opened,and therefore the compressed air can flow from the chamber l4 into thecombustion chamber and expel the combustion gases through the exhaustports, as is known in the art. Thereafter the operation is repeated asdescribed.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the inwardly acting pistons10, lb, 1c and Id act on the crank shaft 3 and rotate the same in thedirection of the arrow 12 shown in Fig. 2, which .shaft provides thepower shaft.

ample shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is rotatably mounted on bearings 23 and 30provided on the stationary bodies 26 and 21.

In the frame orcasing 23 cylinders 4|! are provided in which inner andouter pistons 4| and 42 have reciprocating .movement. The inner pistons4| act on a shaft 3| which is rotatably mounted in bearings 43 and 44provided respectively in the stationary body 26 and in the frame orcasing 23. The pistons 4| carry rollers 45 which bear on a flange 46 ofthe shaft 3|, and springs 33 are provided which hold the said rollers inengagement .with the flange 46. The pistons 42 carry rollers 41 whichbear on the inner face of the circumferential wall of the ring or casing28.

At one side the frame or casing 23 is made integral with a trunnion orshaft 32, which is passed through the stationary body 21 and is adaptedto deliver the power developed by the engine.

The annular chamber between the frame or casing 23 and the ring orcasing 28 is divided by pistons 48 into working chambers, and the saidpistons 48 are pivotally mounted at 50 in the circumferential wall ofthe casing 28, and they engage in slots 5| made in semi-cylindricalblocks 52 embedded in cylindrical pockets 53 cf the frame or casing 23,the pistons positively connecting the ring 28 and the frame. 23. Theoutwardly acting pistons 42 are in loose engagement with the ring 28through the intermediary of the rollers 41, and also the inner pistons4| are in loose engagement with the shaft 3|.

Through a pipe 34 a cooling medium is supplied to the casing 23, and thesaid cooling medium is delivered through the pipe 35. Fuel is suppliedthrough a pipe 36.

The operation of the engine shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is as follows: Rotarymovementis imparted to the frame or casing 23 by the pistonsreciprocating within the said casing, the inwardly acting pistonsbeingcontrolled by the shaft 3| and the outwardly acting pistonsimparting movement to the ring 28. By reason of the positive connectionbetween theparts 28 and 23 also the ring 28 is rotated. Also thesteering shaft 3| continuously performs rotary movement. However, allthe parts 23, 23 and 3| have equal annular velocities. The power istransmitted'to a driven motor by the shaft 32.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a body formed with aplurality of radially arranged cylinders, two pistons mounted in eachcylinder for reciprocating therein, mechanisms cooperating with saidpistons so as to cause the pistons within each cylinder to move inopposite directions, means controlling the supply and delivery of acombustible mixture to said cylinders, said mechanism cooperating withthe outer pistons being in the form of a ring haw'ng radial and rotaryoscillating movement towards and away from said cylinders for impartingreciprocating movement to said outer cylinders, end plates associatedwith said body and ring and forming a chamber between the same, a pistonconnected with said ring and body and dividing said chamber intosections, said body being formed with a chamber, slots in said body andassociated ports in one of said end plates cooperating alternately toconnect and disconnect said sections with the outer air, slots in one ofsaid end plates and cooperating ports in said body adapted. alternatelyto connect and disconnect said sections with said chamber within thebody, said cylinders being provided with scavenging ports for connectingthe same with said chamber within the body.

2. In an, internal combustion engine, comprising a body formed with aplurality of radially arranged cylinders, two pistons mounted in eachcylinder for reciprocating therein, mechanism cooperating with saidpistons so as to cause the pistons within each cylinder to move inopposite directions, and means controlling the supply and delivery of acombustible mixture to said cylinders, the improvement herein describedwhich consists in the said mechanism comprising a ring connected withthe outer pistons of said cylinders and having radial and rotaryoscillating movement towards and away from said cylinders'for impartingreciprocating movement to said outer cylinders, and plates forming achamber between said body and ring, and a piston associated with saidbody and ring and dividing said chamber into sections, and means tosupply air to said sections and to deliver the same therefrom aftercompression.

3. In an internal combustion engine, comprising a body formed with aplurality of radially arranged cylinders, two pistons mounted in eachcylinder for reciprocating therein, mechanism cooperating with saidpistons so as to cause the pistons within each cylinder to move inopposite directions, and means controlling the sup,- ply and delivery ofa combustible mixture to said cylinders, the improvement hereindescribed which consists in the said mechanism comprising a ringconnected with the outer pistons of said cylinders and having radial androtary oscillating'movement towards and away from said.

cylinders for imparting reciprocating movement to said outer cylinders,the said ring being mounted eccentrically of said body, end platesforming a. chamber between said body and ring a rotary shaft disposedeccentrically of said body and cylinders and operativelyconnected withsaid" inner pistons, pistons dividing said chamber into sections andmovable relatively to said body and ring, and means controlling thesupply of fuel to said sections and the delivery of said fuel therefrom.

4. In an internal combustion engine, comprising a body provided withradial cylinders, two pistons in each cylinder having reciprocatingmovement therein, and mechanism connecting said inner and outer pistonsfor causing the same to reciprocate in opposite directions, theimprovement described herein which consists in the said mechanismcomprising a ring connected with said outer pistons and mountedeccentrically of said body and having its eccentricity variable so as toimpart reciprocating movement to said outer pistons, end plates forminga chamber between said ring and body, and in which pistons are providedbetween said body and ring for dividing said chamber into sections, andmeans for supplying fuel to said sections and to deliver the sametherefrom after compression.

5. In an internal combustion engine, comprising a; body provided withradial cylinders, two pistons in each cylinder having reciprocatingmovement therein, and mechanism connecting said inner and outer pistonsfor causing the same to reciprocate in opposite directions, theimprovement described herein which consists in the said mechanismcomprising a ring connected with said outer pistons and mountedeccentrically of said body and having its eccentricity variable so as toimpart reciprocating movement to said outer pistons, end plates forminga chamber between said ring and body, a piston associated with said bodyand ring and dividing said chamber into sections, and means to supplyair to said sections and to deliver the same therefrom aftercompression, said body being formed with a chamber adapted to receivethe fuel delivered from said suctions.

ERICH ALLsTADT.

